Company Policy Violation

Under the Employment at Will Doctrine, employers may fire employees for just about any reason, including company policy violation. Virtually all states enforce the Doctrine to some degree.

Additionally, state courts typically consider clear, properly-documented company policies to be binding, implied contracts between employers and employees.

As a result, an employee breach of the implied contract in the form of policy violation, might constitute good cause for the employer to fire the employee.

However, employee lawsuits have challenged the validity of the Doctrine, as well as employment discharge for company policy violation.

Subsequently, should your employer fire (or otherwise seriously discipline) you for company policy violation, then your employee rights might allow you to challenge it in court.

A court will likely consider all factors involved, to decide whether or not your employer really had good cause to fire you for company policy violation.

For example, a court will likely consider your overall employment record at the company, extenuating circumstances, evidential strength, and whether or not your employer:

• Properly documented the policy with a clear warning that it justified discipline such as discharge
• Told you about the policy verbally or in writing
• Gave you a chance to explain your side of the story
• Disciplined other employees in the same way for a similar policy violation

A court will likely also consider the seriousness of your company policy violation, such as whether or not it actually hurt the company, its clients or other employees—or ultimately, just you.

Consult an attorney about challenging an employment termination because of company policy violation or for any other reason.